Ch 5
Brendan burst into the hospital room as Rui emerged from another room, a large bandage covering her temple and a small bottle of medicine in one hand. May blinked in surprise and stood up, already holding the cleaned jacket and blanket in her arms.
"I saw Fein!" he blurted and gasped for air, "He knows where we all are! We've got to find the real Seth and tell him!"
"How? He hasn't shown up here yet!" May exclaimed and held up the items, "Or else he would have gotten his jacket already!"
"He probably went to the Pokémon Center first to check on Jupiter and Pluto. Let's go there and see for ourselves." Rui added and ran towards the doors, injury forgotten when she heard about Fein. May and Brendan followed, hurrying as fast as they could to catch up.
The Pokémon Center wasn't too far and as they reached the steps, the doors flew open and the Snagger was already racing out, Poké Balls in hand and fresh strip of zinc oxide painted across his face. He stopped in surprise and blinked at Rui as they joined him.
"Rui? What are you doing here? I thought you'd be still in the medical center." he asked in confusion, "What are you all doing here as a matter of fact? Didn't I tell you guys to take her to a doctor?"
"They already did. I got a few stitches but I'll be okay." Rui replied, "Seth, Brendan says he ran into Fein here!"
"I figured as much. He must be here to move Silver and Bugsy out of the well." the Snagger muttered and took the jacket from May to put on, "I found Crystal and wormed some info out of her scrawny self. Fein conquered the Gym here and trapped Bugsy, the Gym Leader, and Silver in the Slowpoke Well just outside of this town."
"Then we should go and get them out! That's probably what Fein meant by taking care of Silver!" Brendan declared, "He's gonna finish wiping him out!" Seth nodded and ran from them, leaping down the steps and racing for the well. "Hey! Jerk, wait for us!" Brendan added angrily as he and the girls ran after him.
"We don't have much time!" Seth yelled, "Hurry it up!"
Fein walked past the Gym Leader, Bugsy, tied up and stashed beside a pile of boulders to one side and headed for the back of the well/prison. Opening a barred door Team Samba built into the well, he entered a small room and smiled down at the Johto Champion that lay bound and gagged on the floor, glaring back at him in a fury.
"We meet again, Silver Summers." Fein started and knelt down to face the trainer, "You've kept such a big secret for so long. How on earth did you manage that? It must have been hellish when trying to get day to day things done." He undid the gag and pulled away quickly, laughing as Silver tried to bite his hand. "You're a very spunky trainer! I like that. It means they have strong Pokémon to steal. Don't worry. I'll take good care of yours, once they've been converted into Shadow Pokémon for Cipher."
"You lay a hand on my Poké Balls and I'll kick you from here to the Lake of Rage!" Silver snapped and cringed as Fein reached out to stroke jet black hair. "Get out of my face! And don't touch me!"
"You know, most boys don't take care of their hair the way you do. Or let it grow that long. Doesn't it get annoying having to tie it up and stuff it under your hat?" Silver struggled to get free, growling angrily as the Cipher peon played a bit more with the strands. "The world recognizes you not just for your power as a trainer, but for this silver ribbon you love to wear around your head. Think of how all the Gyms would just cave in if they were to see this pretty ribbon drenched in blood." Silver stilled and looked horrified.
"Are you... are you going to kill me?" the trainer asked in a wavering voice. Fein laughed.
"And lose your services to the Cipher Corporation before Ein brainwashes you? Not at all!" he replied, "I'm just going to make everyone think you're dead so taking over Johto becomes easier to do." Silver began struggling again, screaming loudly in fury and frustration as the peon laughed again, reaching for the silver ribbon.
Outside the well, Seth, Rui, Brendan and May could all hear the sudden shriek of outrage. Seth growled angrily and grabbed onto the ladder, climbing down as fast as he could with the others following quickly. The yell couldn't be a good sign.
"That sounds like... a girl?" Brendan asked in confusion, "Is it Bugsy?"
"Bugsy doesn't sound like a girl's name. What Pokémon does Bugsy use anyway?" May asked as they landed in the bottom of the well and started searching around.
"Bug Pokémon." Seth replied, "What else?" He heard another shriek and ran ahead, "You keep looking for Bugsy! I'll see what's making that damn noise!"
Seth stopped just outside of the cell at the back of the well's depths and scowled at Fein as he stepped out of it with a ribbon dangling from his fingers and a smile on his face.
"Fancy meeting face to face again, twin." he remarked and pocketed the ribbon to pull out a pair of Poké Balls, "You snagged my Togetic last time we faced each other, but let's see if you can stand a chance against my new Shadows!"
"Seth! I'm over here!" Rui cried as she came onto the scene and stood to one side, "I'll spot the Shadow Pokémon! May and Brendan found Bugsy not far from where we were! He'll be okay!"
"Jupiter, Pluto! Show him who's the real deal again!" Seth declared, releasing the twins. The nurse at the center had handed them to him and told him that, though they were perfectly fine now after treatment, another attack like the one Crystal had launched would most certainly kill them. For now, the Espeon and Umbreon stood fast on the battlefield, strong and healthy again.
"Ha! You think those two are going to do anything to me?" Fein declared and tossed out his own Pokémon, "Neptune, Saturn! Show them your beauty!" A second set of twins, again an Espeon and an Umbreon stood on the field, eyes narrowed at the opponent Pokémon. Rui gasped.
"Seth! Those are both Shadow Pokémon!" she cried.
"You lousy, two-timing, copycat! How dare you take mirror images of my friends and make them into Shadows!" Seth yelled in a fury, "What were you thinking?" Fein smiled brightly.
"My Espeon and Umbreon are twin females, perfect for taking out your twin males. Espeon! Attract the Espeon! Umbreon! Attract the Umbreon!" he announced with a flamboyant sweep of his arm. The females jumped forward to the respective opponents and looked at them sweetly, cooing and rubbing against them. Seth watched in shock as his two closest friends fell for the trap, cooing and rubbing heads back, tails wagging and swaying.
"Jupiter! Snap out of it! That's just a trap to keep you from attacking!" he cried.
"Hello there, little pretty. I'm called Jupiter. How about a round of lemonade for the two of us after this little skirmish?" Jupiter purred, nuzzling the female Espeon.
"Pluto! Don't you fall for that same bait!" Seth demanded of the Umbreon and looked dismayed as the Umbreon ignored him in favor of kissing up to the female, displaying how brightly his rings glowed in the dark cave as she looked coy and bat her eyes. "Guys!"
"Attract is the best way to keep Pokémon of the opposite sex from making a move. You should have studied up on Venus's favorite move." Fein taunted, "Now! Espeon! Bite the male Espeon! Umbreon! Confuse Ray the male!" The female Espeon went from cooing to a snarl, chomping her jaws onto Jupiter's neck and thrashing wildly as the male cried in pain and struggled, trying not to hit the female as he tugged and stumbled about.
"Jupiter!" Seth cried again, running up to pull the female away, only to find himself thrown to the floor by its psychic abilities as it continued tearing at the Espeon's neck. The female Umbreon flashed the light from her eyes at Pluto and slammed into his side to make him face the two Espeons. "Wait! Don't move, Pluto! Snap out of it!" the Snagger yelled, picking himself up as the Umbreon male darted forward blindly to attack one of the Espeons. May, Brendan and Bugsy ran in as Seth cried in a pained voice while Pluto bit down onto Jupiter's leg, toppling the three Eons into a heap while the female Umbreon circled them, snarling viciously. Rui was screaming and crying, tears running down her face.
"Oh Lord, this is a bloodbath." Brendan whispered in horror. May reached into her pack and brought out a red glass flute, putting it to her lips. She closed her eyes and played a cheerful melody on it, then switched to a yellow flute and played the same melody on that.
Jupiter bucked off both his brother and the female Espeon, then turned and slashed at the female angrily, driving it back to its sister before sitting down and panting, rivers of blood running down his shoulders and haunches. Seth stared at him in shock, then looked back at May.
"My flutes will snap them out of Attract and Confused states! Keep attacking and heal them!" she called out and pulled out the red flute, handing the yellow one to Brendan, "You play this when they get confused. I'll play the red one if they get attracted again." Bugsy blinked and stared at the flutes.
"Those are new to me." he remarked softly.
"Jupiter! Morning Sun! Pluto! Moonlight! Heal up, both of you! Quickly!" Seth ordered and dug into his pack for a pair of items. The Eons focused and waves of energy flowed around them, healing the wounds and restoring their health. "Pluto! Black Glasses!" he added, tossing out the shades. The Umbreon jumped and let them fall onto his head, covering his eyes. A dark glow surrounded him then faded, an increase in his Dark type moves adding strength to him. "Jupiter! Twisted Spoon! Catch!" Seth called, tossing him the bent and contorted bit of silverware. The Espeon nabbed it out of the air in his teeth and faced the female Espeon, glowing a soft blue from the spoon's added effects.
"Two can play this game." Fein growled and tossed out a pair of berries tied to strings that looped around the female Eons' necks, "Now, both of you! Attract the Espeon and Umbreon again!" Seth stood ready with a bottle of Hyper Potion in one hand as the females leaped forward and cooed prettily again. The twin males trembled and stepped forward to meet the playful looking females.
"Not until they get purified!" May declared and played the Red Flute again. The boys snapped out of the attraction.
"Thanks! Jupiter! Psychic the female! Plute! Bite the Espeon! We'll have to take them out of the battle one by one!" Seth declared and pulled a Poké Ball out in his Snagging arm, letting the machine charge and alter the energy field in the ball. Jupiter lashed with the attack, using the spoon to focus it and slam the female Espeon into the floor. His brother darted in and bit at the female as the second Umbreon dove in to attack viciously. "Jupiter, Pluto! Pull back!"
"Umbreon! Don't let him snag your sister! Attack with Shadow Rush!" Fein yelled. The Eon leaped back and seemed to freeze, prepared to leap at Seth as he finished charging the Snag Machine and readied the ball. Rui and the others watched in growing horror at the waves of dark energy rushing towards the female Umbreon, gathering within it and making its eyes light up in madness. Fur raised and teeth bared, it launched itself at incredible speed at the Snagger.
"Seth! Look out!" Rui finally cried. The teen barely had the time to throw the Snag Ball at the Espeon before the female Umbreon collided into him, sending both crashing to the floor. Dropping his spoon, Jupiter snapped at the peon as it tried to dart in and grab the wriggling ball on the floor, then snatched it up in his mouth when it fell still, racing away to his master. Pluto darted after him to pull the female off of Seth, the Shadow Pokémon tearing at his arm and growling savagely.
"Umbreon! Snap out of it! You're in Hyper Mode!" Seth cried, wincing painfully at the crazed animal biting into his arm and lashing with its nails at his face, neck and chest, "Stop it! Umbreon!" The female jumped back, jerking her head about and squalling, trying to make sense of its surroundings and actions. Sitting up and holding his arm, Seth watched it as the female Umbreon finally ran into a nearby rock, knocking itself aside in a heap. Fein stared at it in shock, then turned red with anger.
"Stupid things. Why did it decide to go nuts on me now? It was doing just fine before facing your team." he fumed and held out his Poké Ball. "Well, I'll just recall it before you can snag the last..."
"Snagging Pokémon! Stand back, guys!" Seth yelled as he finished charging the Snag Machine and another ball, then let it fly, cringing in pain and dropping to his knees as the injuries to his arm protested the action. The Poké Ball hit the heaving female and pulled it in, not even fighting the capture. "Pluto! Retrieve!" The male darted in and snatched it before Fein could run in and scoop up the ball himself, racing out in victory with the newly acquired Shadow Pokémon in his mouth.
"Little bastard." Fein hissed, stepping away from the group towards the edge of the short cliff they stood on. "You won't escape Cipher's reaches much longer, Seth! We'll get you back! You can count on it!" With that and a maniacal laugh, Fein turned and leaped out into the darkness, disappearing into the underground river that flowed through the well's interior to some unknown destination. May and Brendan ran to see where he could be, but only heard a splash and nothing more.
"What a battle!" Bugsy breathed and looked confused as Rui ran to Seth's side and began tending to the wounded arm. "But can anyone tell me what was up with the whole 'identical twin trainers' thing?" Brendan told him the story in a nutshell as May walked up to the injured Snagger and helped Rui remove the machine and jacket to check his wounds.
"They don't look too bad. But they must hurt like all heck." May murmured as Rui started bandaging the many cuts and bites, disinfecting what she could with a spray she pulled from her pack. Seth winced and scowled, a cut on his cheek oozing a thin trail of red down his face.
"You should see a doctor about all this. What if they get infected and you get sick?" Rui asked worriedly. The Snagger sighed as she finished the first aid and began redressing.
"I've gotten worse injuries before and never got seriously ill from them. In fact, I can't recall ever having a single day of sickness, not even a stupid little cold." he told her bluntly, "I think I can't get sick from diseases that affect humans."
"The genetic strands." Rui murmured in realization and helped him stand. Seth nodded and tested his arm, bearing the aches and pains before reaching down to pet and give healing potions to the twins that came up to him with the two snagged Pokémon in their mouths. He collected them and released the females, setting to work on healing them as well, talking softly to them as he gave them potions and treats. The twin females kept their eyes shut the whole time, trembling in what seemed to be fear, then finally relaxing and opening their eyes, looking up at him in uncertainty.
"I'm your new trainer now, and I'm going to make you the way you were before." Seth murmured and grinned at Jupiter and Pluto as they stepped up and nuzzled the newcomers affectionately. "Don't tell me you two are actually attracted to these little ladies without that lousy move!"
"I can't help it if she's cute! Look at those eyes and those legs! Rowr! Purify her quick!" Jupiter replied with a throaty growl.
"Do this one first! Look at her! Such sleek black fur and her eyes shine as bright as her rings! I can picture it now, Saturn; you, me, behind the Day Care Center..." Pluto cooed. Seth pulled the glasses off of him and sighed, going up to recollect the forgotten spoon and put them away.
"More hormonal than me. There's a first." he muttered under his breath and picked up the silver ribbon that had apparently fallen from Fein's pocket in his dash to oblivion. Fingering it, he looked towards the cell door and put two and two together. "Rui! May, Brendan! I think I found Silver!" he called back and pushed open the door. The other trainers and the four Eons rushed up to join him and peered into the room as Seth entered to find the Johto Champion.